Hope for the New Year

William Shea

Sermon • Submitted 3 years ago

Hope

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Having hope after a year of dealing with the COVID pandemic

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Introduction

When Jupiter sent woman down to earth endowed with every charm, he named her Pandora—"the gift of all the gods." In the hand of Pandora the immortals had placed a casket which she was forbidden to open. Overcome by curiosity, one day she lifted the cover of the box and looked in. Forthwith there escaped from the box every conceivable plague for man's body and his mind, and immediately they scattered themselves far and wide throughout the earth. Pandora hastened to replace the lid of the box, but only one thing was left—hope. That was the ancients' way of giving preeminence to hope.

Today I’d like to look at hope in light of the events of this year past.

Ongoing COVID pandemic, recent election controversy

It has been said that 2020 has been a year like no other. However, many of those who say that were not around for the depression of the thirties, either World War, Korea, or the Vietnam riots. History for these people began with the 9/11 disaster. Not to diminish the loss of life in the ongoing war in the middle-east, but this war has been fought by a relatively small army of brave and honorable volunteers. Less than 10% of the nation even know personally someone who has served since the beginning of this century.

That being said, we all have experienced some form of loss this past year, but what makes it all bearable is hope, and we all have hope. Robert Schuller once said, “Let your hopes, not your hurts, shape your future.” Franklin Delano Roosevelt said, “We have always held to the hope, the belief, the conviction that there is a better life, a better world, beyond the horizon.” What would life be without hope?

What are your hopes for this next year? I'm not talking about New Year’s resolutions. Those are things that are within your power to bring about. I’m speaking of hope; things you wish will come true, but have absolutely have no power to control.

Hope for today

The Psalmist writes, “Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him For the help of His presence.” Ps 42:5.

1. Despair is a killer in this life.

In 1997 the journal of the American Heart Association reported on some remarkable research. According to the Chicago Tribune, Susan Everson of the Human Population Laboratory of the Public Health Institute in Berkeley, California, found that people who experienced high levels of despair had a 20 percent greater occurrence of atherosclerosis—the narrowing of their arteries—than did optimistic people. “This is the same magnitude of increased risk that one sees in comparing a pack-a-day smoker to a non-smoker,” said Everson. In other words, despair can be as bad for you as smoking a pack a day!

3. Scripture says unbelievers are without hope.

Eph 2:12,” remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.”

God’s hopes

We will be strengthened by our hope in Christ Jesus. Isaiah 40:31.

That we will experience joy and peace in this life. Rom 15:13.

Conclusion

In Jesus’ day, the Gentiles looked to the government for their well-being. The Jews waited for the Messiah to come and bring them power over their enemies. But it is Christ who brought true hope into the world. It is Jesus, the God of Hope, who offers true joy and peace in this life. When we looked to Him, we can overcome all the trials and tribulations of this life,and through the power of the Holy Spirit, remain confident in our new everlasting life with the King of kings, Lord of lords.